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Great Bands That Made (Relatively) Forgettable Debut Records

By Tom Hawking on

In an interesting cosmic coincidence, this week marks notable anniversaries for two of the more significant debut albums in the world of rock ‘n’ roll: 25 years ago yesterday, the Pixies released Surfer Rosa, while 50 years ago today, the Beatles released Please Please Me. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this is the contrast between the quality of the records — Surfer Rosa was a fully realized artistic vision, while Please Please Me only hinted at what the Beatles would go on to achieve. Still, the Fab Four are in pretty good company as far as bands who overcame relatively unimpressive debut albums go. As these ten records prove, there’s hope for everyone! … Read More

Music

5 New Tracks You Need to Hear This Week: Frank Ocean, Blanck Mass

By Tom Hawking on

It’s Friday, which means we’ve come to the end of the single most barren week in the music industry’s release schedule. It’s like a snowy wasteland out there, kids! As such, we’re downscaling our regular list of 10 new tracks to hear — and, ideally, download — to five for this week, but at least they’re five good ‘uns: there’s a hitherto unreleased track from Frank Ocean (complete with an ALL CAPS lyric sheet from the man himself), along with the unexpected return of Blanck Mass, a taster from the new Low album, Dent May getting all “1999″ on our collective asses, and a present from Pulp to the denizens of the good ship Coachella. Click through and get listening. … Read More

Music

Pulp May Be Gone for Good

By Judy Berman on

Remember all those years we paid to see Jarvis Cocker solo, enjoying those performances and that new material but all the while praying he’d just break into “Lipgloss” already? We got our wish two Novembers ago, when Pulp announced a reunion performance at 2011′s Isle of Wight Festival, followed by a slew of tour dates.… Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. As predicted, this was the best Thanksgiving box office weekend ever. Was it because the slate of films was a lot better than it usually is, or just the diversity of the the offerings? [via Buzzfeed]

2. That’s one way not to be invited back to China: Elton John dedicated the show… Read More

Music

10 ’90s Bands That Are Still Worth Your Time

By Tom Hawking on

It’s one of the great truisms of the music industry that music moves in 20-year cycles, and sure enough, ’90s nostalgia is in full swing — just this year, The Stone Roses have re-formed, Chris Cornell abandoned his ill-fated Timbaland experiment for a Soundgarden reunion… and even Everclear and Gin Blossoms did a tour together, for Chrissakes. We’re not sold on all such ’90s revivalism — it’s difficult to remain together and relevant for two decades, after all — but while some of the decade’s best bands sadly no longer exist, there remain plenty of ’90s bands that are still around and still worth your time. With the new Dinosaur Jr. album I Bet on Sky out this week (and currently available to stream at NPR), we thought we’d look at a selection of such acts. Our picks await you after the jump. … Read More

Music

9 Songs That Would Make Great Theme Parties

By Jennifer Lewis on

Have you ever listened to a song and thought, “Hey, that would make a great theme party”? It’s a rare occurrence, but we recently heard Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” for the first time in a long time and were inspired to revive our pop-culture theme party series. This time, we’re featuring popular songs that have all the ingredients for a rockin’ theme party. Because — well, who wouldn’t want to be engulfed in a ’90s-tastic “Tubthumping” soirée? Check out our ideas for some David Bowie, Rolling Stones, and Pulp-inspired shindigs after the jump, and hit the comments to suggest more party-worthy jams. … Read More

Music

Stereotyping You by Your Favorite ’90s Band

By Tom Hawking on

They say music moves in 20-year cycles, and the surfeit of ’90s-influenced bands on the scene at the moment seems to suggest that maybe they’re right (whoever “they” are.) It also seems that there are plenty of original ’90s bands playing at the moment, both renascent (Garbage, Pulp) those who never went away (Pearl Jam, for instance), or those who have no right to actually exist either way and are yet somehow touring together. Anyway, with all this in mind — and, specifically, because the new Garbage album is out this week — we thought it was high time for another of our stereotyping posts. Obligatory disclaimer: this is all in fun, so don’t take offense — and also, as ever, our stereotype is in there with the rest. See if you can guess which one it is! … Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. “He turned his home into a movie set. He had extras and all of that. We had no idea. But I think that’s what he wanted. He wanted us to go into it with a casual feel and to do Shakespeare like you’re not used to seeing. He didn’t want big production value or… Read More

Books

Ed Wood’s Sleazy Paperback Collection

By Alison Nastasi on

Cult director Ed Wood spent part of his career moonlighting as a pulp novelist, scribbling up sexy tales of transvestite divas and horror-savvy subjects. This doesn’t seem so unusual considering Wood was a cross-dresser himself, but it’s another facet of the Plan 9 director’s past that’s fascinating — not to mention, guys in drag and pornography in general were pretty hush-hush during Wood’s days. Boo-Hooray gallery in New York’s Chinatown have gathered about 70 Ed Wood books for an exhibition they’re hosting through December 1. Curated by Michael Daley and Johan Kugelberg, the collection of sleazy paperback novels shows Wood’s past as a writer of ” … porn inter-spliced with lengthy philosophical, sociological and psychological discourse … ” and more. The lurid, campy cover designs — some sporting Wood’s various pseudonyms — featured in the exhibition are the largest collection of Ed Wood publications shown to date. Catch a preview of the show past the break, before you head to the gallery for tons more. … Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. Does Seth MacFalane wish that Family Guy would get canceled? In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter he says: “Part of me thinks that Family Guy should have already ended. I think seven seasons is about the right lifespan for a TV series. I talk to the fans and in a… Read More